germanium

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ger=ma=ni=um

CIDE DICTIONARY

germanium, n. [NL., fr. L. Germania Germany.].

 A rare element, discovered in 1885 in a silver ore (argyrodite) at Freiberg. It is a brittle, silver-white metal, chemically intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, resembles tin, and is in general identical with the predicted ekasilicon. Symbol Ge. Atomic number 32. Atomic weight 72.59. It has excellent semiconductor properties, and is used in transistors and diodes.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

germanium, n. Chem. a lustrous brittle semi-metallic element occurring naturally in sulphide ores and used in semiconductors.

Usage

Symb.: Ge.

Etymology

mod.L f. Germanus GERMAN